Links/News
So, this is horrible and hard to process, but if you aren't already, you should be aware of the new study about sexual violence in the Congo. [Major trigger warning on that link.]
We knew it was bad, but it is apparently 26 times worse than previous estimates. And this study is /still/ an underrepresentation because it didn't include girls under 15, women over 49, or men and boys at all.
The Shakesville article here has links at the bottom for places you can go to contact the state department and your legislators. [Again, TW on the link.]
Meanwhile, back in the US, Indiana cut off all funding to Planned Parenthood (who, by the way, are /already/ prohibited from using federal funds to pay for abortion anywhere, under the Hyde Amendment), Missouri made it even harder to get an abortion, in fact nearly impossible, Minnesota amended their constitution to ban gay marriage, and the navy tried to, but then were pressured out of, allowing their bases to be used for same-sex marriage ceremonies in states where it is legal.
Though Delaware did pass a civil union bill. Small comforts.
Also, in my random perusing of the BBC, I came across this country bio of the USA. It's interesting to see what other countries think of your own, I think.
We knew it was bad, but it is apparently 26 times worse than previous estimates. And this study is /still/ an underrepresentation because it didn't include girls under 15, women over 49, or men and boys at all.
The Shakesville article here has links at the bottom for places you can go to contact the state department and your legislators. [Again, TW on the link.]
Meanwhile, back in the US, Indiana cut off all funding to Planned Parenthood (who, by the way, are /already/ prohibited from using federal funds to pay for abortion anywhere, under the Hyde Amendment), Missouri made it even harder to get an abortion, in fact nearly impossible, Minnesota amended their constitution to ban gay marriage, and the navy tried to, but then were pressured out of, allowing their bases to be used for same-sex marriage ceremonies in states where it is legal.
Though Delaware did pass a civil union bill. Small comforts.
Also, in my random perusing of the BBC, I came across this country bio of the USA. It's interesting to see what other countries think of your own, I think.